Isn't this taking griefing a bit too far?

[Memnoch]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior Wasn't this posted here awhile back? Honestly, I chuckled a bit even tho I know I shouldn't : -/

While on the surface it may seem to be funny trying to make an epileptic cause a seizure by showing them flashing lights, I think if you think about it carefully I don't know how anyone could remotely conceive of this being humorous. To me, it's pretty close to assault. You're trying to cause physical harm to another person by preying on their disability - like picking on a cripple or something.

[Memnoch]

Originally Posted by Ziroc Griefers are the kind of people that sit behind their PC, safe and protected, and go doing these idiotic things, but they would NEVER DARE do something/say the things to peoples faces. They are weak whoosies. I'd love to meet whoever posted those flashing images. I'd flash some brass knuckles. heh...

One of the things about the internet is that is has given arseholes an opportunity to be arseholes at no physical risk to themselves. If anyone pulled this shit in RL face to face they would likely have the shit kicked out of them. But on the internet? Anyone can be a dickhead and be a tough guy because there are no consequences to their actions.

[Memnoch]

Originally Posted by thecarrotdude Haha

Good to see that our lower age bracket finds the humour in causing an epileptic to have a seizure. Truly, our world is in good hands!

[SpiritWarrior]

Originally Posted by Memnoch While on the surface it may seem to be funny trying to make an epileptic cause a seizure by showing them flashing lights, I think if you think about it carefully I don't know how anyone could remotely conceive of this being humorous. To me, it's pretty close to assault. You're trying to cause physical harm to another person by preying on their disability - like picking on a cripple or something.

I would direct you to this post which I posted already in this thread.

Well I can't speak for anyone else but I didn't know anyone was hurt until I read further into it and saw that seizures were a result. I initially chuckled at the concept which was used, thinking to myself "my god what will they think of next?" and then I read further. Despite popular belief, I wasn't cackling maniacally as I read on. Nothing else was mentioned to indicate laughing at anyones expense, but for some odd reason it seems that we have decided there was.

[Memnoch]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior I would direct you to this post which I posted already in this thread.

It wasn't a criticism of you mate, I was making my own comment.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior Wasn't this posted here awhile back? Honestly, I chuckled a bit even tho I know I shouldn't : -/ Well I can't speak for anyone else but I didn't know anyone was hurt until I read further into it and saw that seizures were a result. I initially chuckled at the concept which was used, thinking to myself "my god what will they think of next?" and then I read further. Despite popular belief, I wasn't cackling maniacally as I read on. Nothing else was mentioned to indicate laughing at anyones expense, but for some odd reason it seems that we have decided there was.

Whatever mate. The key words "though I know I shouldn't" seemed to indicate you know very well what's up, otherwise what reasons are there why "you shouldn't"?

Were I you, I'd just apologise, drop it and move on. No sense in getting all defensive. It's just making it bigger and makes it seem like you're getting gang-bashed. The problem is people finding humour at other's expense - the inability to empathise - not you personally.

Telling us to "lighten up" misses the point too. An epileptic is often defined by their illness, in the sense that their life can revolve around managing it.

Ian Curtis of the band 'Joy Division' would, after a show, apparently stay up all night until he had a seizure, so he could go to sleep without worrying he'd die that night, contributing to dark depression that resulted in his suicide.

So we may be able to "lighten up" (another way of describing flippantly viewing the situation with a somewhat humorous view) because we're not living with the illness or living with someone who has the illness.

So please leave it alone. The incident is deplorable enough without this thread descending into attack-defense arguments because some people empathised with the culprits rather than the victims.

And if I'm making a point with a sledgehammer, my apologies.

[Gangrell]

Originally Posted by SpiritWarrior We didn't say it was hilarious. I never said I condone it. Let's lighten up a bit, if it was a skit on SNL and nobody was harmed because they're all actors then people would laugh. We laugh at videos of people falling down in a funny way even though they could be seriously hurt. Yet someone falling is initially funny to us - funny enough that we make reels of these things and show them on tv shows. We are obviously all corrupted then.

Point taken, though the landing was a bit off.

I don't think we're all corrupted, we as human beings have to walk through life enduring the stupidity of others. We laugh at those videos, because people in their stupidity go out of their way to hurt themselves which makes us laugh. There's a difference at laughing at a stupid person trying to be stupid (and succeeding) and then there's laughing at something like this. Now I'm not condemning you or anything, but yes, I do see the horrific irony in it as well.

I have an old friend that has seizures 2-3 times a day to the point over so long, he eventually became brain damaged and had to have part of his brain removed. Do I get a chuckle out of this? No, but I'm not going to say, "You bastard" to people that did. Because as most have said, they did that up until they read more into the article.

However...

Originally Posted by thecarrotdude Haha

Yeah, you know my opinion.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Gangrell I have an old friend that has seizures 2-3 times a day to the point over so long, he eventually became brain damaged and had to have part of his brain removed.

Oh man....

[Gangrell]

Originally Posted by Yorick Oh man....

I know, the scary part was I happened to be there the first time he ever had one. Was back in middle school on a bus trip, the person sitting next to him got up, and he was one of those guys that did anything for a laugh. They got up and he fell from his side to mine and starting shaking. Unfortunately, it took a couple seconds to realize he wasn't faking.

It's been 3 years since I last saw him, haven't heard anything bad, so hopefully he's doing well.

[Bumbus]

I have only read the last page and the original post so hopefully this has not already been said or commented on.

I am of the opinion that the individual or group that initiated the “attack” is not the only one at fault.

Personally I do not usually find humor in someone purposely causing harm to others and I am assuming that is what was done here. So I am not condoning that type of activity however; it is possible to put images on display that will cause someone to have a seizure on mistake, right? So what I am getting at is: shouldn’t someone who is prone to seizers brought on by images be extremely careful about what they bring up on their computer screen? Or maybe design a program that can tell if an image is capable of this and not display it?

Also shouldn’t the Forum have been a lot more diligent and not allowed this to happen. I admit I am not at all knowledgeable about what is involved in maintaining a forum, but I would think it is possible to stop those types of posts or messages.